Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-16

or glances, or caresses, but they were truly
happy, and though their future lay in a
scrubby old COW and skinny pig. they felt rich
in their youth, their health and their habits of
industry, and their present mingling OF
mutual interests. TrIE.
They were too ignorant Of the high fown
sentimentality in use in civilized society to
indulge in the murmured words and tender
caresses that other people feel to be the only
outlet Of their bliss, but in their simple,
honest hearts they felt a joy and pure happi-
ness that could not be surpassed.
Sofas mistress received the news gravely
and kindly, and at once sent for the village
priest, who was, as all Bulgarians are, of the
Greek religion. and he came followed by all
his retinue Of deacon, acolyte and choir boys,
and the ceremony of betrothal was per-
formed; and in this religion the ceremony is
as binding as the wedding itself.
In another part of the village another scene
was being enacted The Turkish officer in
that part of the pashalic was seated at his
supper, when there entered one Of his minions.
one whose business it is to collect taxes from
those wretched peasants by fair means or by
foul-mOre often by foul.
In each pashalic, or county, the peasants
were obliged to support the pasha, or cover.
nor, who holds arbitrary power, and the law
is that all the possessions and increase of the
Bulgarians are to be divided into five equal
parts, of which one-fifth goes to the crown,
one-fifth to the pasha, and one fifth to the
support Of the Turkish officers and soldiers
quartered in the place for the purpose Of col
lecting these taxes and to quell any possible
,,,,,.ici,,v ~ ~
The remaining two-fifths are supposed to be-
long to the people who produce it. but their
own clergy manage to obtain nearly il not
quite another fifth, leaving the wretched
peasant scarcely enough to keep body and
soul together
The Greek priest is called upon to visit the
sick and bury the dead, to bless the new born
of every animal and the first fruits of the
trees and grains, to baptize the children and
to betroth Or marry the young, and to meet
ut stated intervals to say prayers for the dead.
Therefore, on an occasion SO momentous as
the betrothal Of this poor young couple came
naturally whole train of priests, and their
procession with tapers and other necessary
insignia caused quite q flutter in this little
village, and hardly had they reached the
house where they were expected when the
servant stood beside Rassm Bey to tell the
news.
Rassim, like all the other Turks of stand
ing, had his harem, and not content with
that, and having absolute power even for life
or death over these poor Bulgarians, took
any and every young girl he fancied and shut
her up by force within its impei. trable walls,
and kept her there until he was weary of her.
when he let her go or made present of her
to one of his subordinates
His attention was now called for the first
time towards poor little Sofia, and he gave
his men orders to seize her the next dav and
bring her to his house, and if Yeorgio or any
one else interfered they were to confiscate all
their possessions and give them the bastinado,
after which he smoked his pipe and went to
bed
Among his slaves and servants there was
AN Old Nuhian who served as pipe bearer and
who was being most hideous to see. His face
was scanned and SCARED by numerous battles,
and his form would have been colossal had it
not been bowed by age and the result of his
old wounds He had not been long at this
village when he had been set upon by a herd
of wild Manufacturers, who had come down to
buy ammunition, and he would have been
killed had not Yeorgio, who was passing.
sprang forward and fought with all his
strength against fearful odds to preserve the
old man.
This old negi Q NV remembered the service
rs lie heard of the plan to seize Sofia, and
when his master was asleep he glided
softly out and in short time stood at the
road by which Yeorgio must pass as he left
the house OF his betrothed.
Rafora lorc Vaoruio oo,,,o o,,t -
his way home with lighter step than is
usual with the unfortunate Bugarians and
the old man called his name softly, and then
they drew aside into the deep shrubbery
while the Nubian told the unhappy man of the
plan to carry Sofia off in the morning, and.
after divulging the plot, told the despairing
lover of the plan he had formed to save them
both from Rassim's vengeance and also to
protect Sofas friends from disaster such as
would surely fall upon them had the young
couple attempted to escape. His plan was
that Yeorgio was to return to the farm and
tell Sofia, the farmer and his wife of the dan
ger and to persuade Sofia to take the powder
which he gave Yeorgio. This powder would
produce sleep so sound that it would come
like death, and that she would remain in that
lethargy for forty eight hours, aud then she
would awake as well as ever.
She must take the powder and all her
friends must bewail her as dead, and she
must be buried at sunset the next day. As
soon as it was dark the Nubian would pro-
vide a Turkish arabah, or carriage, and a
full suit Of Turkish womens clothes, veil and
all, and she could travel thus from one end
Df the country to another without molesta-
lion. The cemetery was easy of access, the
bodies always very lightly covered with
earth, and it would be a very simple matter
for Yeorgio to disinter her and place her in
The ARABIAN, and they could go to place he
would signify and his friends would take
,hem to Servia, where they would be safe
from pursuit. The old negro put small
package in Yeorgio's hand which was of
silk and which contained box and some
hing very heavy.
"Do not hesitate, my son." said he. ~ only
give you what do not need, and YOU will
lave to have money. only beg this Of you:
hat you will teach your children to love and
,ray for the old man. Now go; you will not
zee me again, as dare not absent myself
out you will find the arabah Ly the brook
Just beyond the cemetery, and in it you will
Ind a suit Of Turkish clothes for yourself and
or Sofia. l will send two faithful attend
ints, one woman and one man, and you will
Iavel slowly, as do the Turks, and if you are
Questioned you will say that it is one of
tassim Bey's wives who is going to visit her
mother. And now, goodby, aud may Allah
A.. l.